What style or school of rifle do you believe was the

[Dan'l Hickham]

Common rifle in the era - Lancaster? Southern? Virginia? I understand it will be brass mounted with a swamped or tapered barrel of 49-55 caliber.

What say you?

Dan'l Hickham

[Rod]

Lancaster's probably the most common----the AFC, among other fur companies, were placing orders with guys like Gumph fairly early. J. Henry had his factory at Boulton, PA, and Deringer opened his shop in Philadelphia in 1806. That said, alot of guys brought their own rifle from home, so there were probably a number of different styles represented.

Rod

[caintuckrifle]

From my understanding a Lancaster rifle was a rifle by any maker possessing a set of characteristics including
Brass mounted
Full stock usually of maple
Flintlock
Large caliber .40-.50

Is this correct or am I missing something?

[Chuck Burrows]

caintuck - here's a description of the Lancaster aka American style of trade wolf - they were made by several makers over the years and most of the makers were from the Lancaster area of Penna. From 1830 until 1840 Henry of Boullton, Penna, was the main supplier of such guns to the bug fur companies such AFCo

In October of 1825 William B. Astor wrote Henry, "on the subject of Rifles. We continue to import a part of those annually required for our trade; but we usually get 100 or 200 manufactured in the United States, and it will depend much on both price and quality whether we do not in future procure the whole quantity in this country. The barrels of our Rifles are, from 3 ft 8 Inches, to 3 ft 10, and the calibre is in part of them 32 [to the pound] while others carry a ball of 40 to the pound - the Locks are of the best strong roller kind; but not water, proof - The stocks are generally of our native Maple, or Sugar-tree, but we may wish part of them of Black Walnut. The mounting including the PatchBox, is of Brass and well ornamented; and each Gun must have Wipers to screw-on to the thimblerods, and a good Ball mould. The whole weight of the Rifle complete, is from 9 to 10 lbs. . . ."

between 1830 and 1834 Henry also produced "steel" mounted (the fittings were of case hardened wrought iron thus the "steel" appellation. Here's a couple of descriptions:
Steel mounted Henrys (these orders even require a minimum weight of 10 lbs):
1) Sept 1831 Henry received an order for "10 rifles, sing. trig. bar[rels] 3 ft. 4 inches. Cal. 32 [to the pound]. 5 inch locks, best quality, maple stock, chequered, steel mt. with covers, weight of the gun when completed not less than 10# [lbs)nor more than 11."
3) another order to Henry, given in September of 1833, also called for steel mountings: "20 Rifles, Single trickers, Steel mounted same as last year, Balls 28 per lb and [browned] barrels 3 f 2 in long, The whole rifle not to weigh less than 10 lb. nor more than 11 lb."

FYI - the steel/iron mounted Henry rifle that has shown up in several books, including Hanson's book on the Hawkens is NOT a steel mounted Henry. While the rifle uses some Henry parts (IIRC the barrels and lock) the rifle is a marked North Carolina made rifle.